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Scurvy makes surprise return in Australia | Scurvy makes surprise return in Australia |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Doctors in Australia have reported a resurgence in patients suffering from scurvy. | Doctors in Australia have reported a resurgence in patients suffering from scurvy. |
The disease, historically associated with sea explorers, has been found in seven diabetes patients at Westmead Hospital in western Sydney. | The disease, historically associated with sea explorers, has been found in seven diabetes patients at Westmead Hospital in western Sydney. |
Scurvy is now a rare condition caused by having too little vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, in your diet. | Scurvy is now a rare condition caused by having too little vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, in your diet. |
Professor Jenny Gunton discovered the latest cases after treating a patient whose leg wound would not heal. | Professor Jenny Gunton discovered the latest cases after treating a patient whose leg wound would not heal. |
She said scurvy could be more widespread than previously thought. | She said scurvy could be more widespread than previously thought. |
"There's no particular link to diabetes ... except that if you have a poor quality diet you're more likely to get diabetes," said Prof Gunton, who heads the Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology research at The Westmead Institutes. | "There's no particular link to diabetes ... except that if you have a poor quality diet you're more likely to get diabetes," said Prof Gunton, who heads the Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology research at The Westmead Institutes. |
"But of course, a lot of people with diabetes eat perfectly reasonable diets." | "But of course, a lot of people with diabetes eat perfectly reasonable diets." |
What is scurvy? | What is scurvy? |
Health authorities in Australia do not generally test for scurvy or keep statistics on patients suffering from it. | Health authorities in Australia do not generally test for scurvy or keep statistics on patients suffering from it. |
However, Prof Gunton said the disease was easy to prevent. | However, Prof Gunton said the disease was easy to prevent. |
"Eat some fruit, eat some vegetables - and don't overcook the vegetables," she told the BBC. | "Eat some fruit, eat some vegetables - and don't overcook the vegetables," she told the BBC. |
"If you really can't manage that, take one vitamin C a day. But healthy diet is the better fix." | |
Is scurvy making a comeback? | Is scurvy making a comeback? |